What Do You Do if You See a Termite Swarm?

When termites swarm indoors, they will come out of walls or wooden construction (baseboards, door frames, posts, etc.) through small holes. These are called exit holes and were created by worker termites. A termite swarm will last about 30-40 minutes and the swarming termites will fly toward a light source, typically collecting around windows and sliding glass doors. If these termites cannot find soil, they will die in a few hours from dehydration. Often homeowners come home from work to find many dead swarmers (or sometimes just their wings) on window sills, counter tops, around furniture, etc. This is the aftermath of a termite swarm.

Most of the time, a termite swarm is the only time homeowners actually see termites or find out they have termites before damage is discovered. Mature termite colonies will produce winged reproductive termites that will fly off from the colony in great numbers. This is natures way of termites spreading and establishing new colonies. Termite swarms can occur both indoors and outside.

Termites cause an estimated $5 billion in damages in the U.S. every year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). For U.S. residences in 2017 alone, termites were responsible for an estimated $1 billion in damage and approximately $30 billion in total damage to U.S. crops and man-made structures. For the average U.S. residence, termite damage could cost you about $3000 or more depending on the amount of inflicted damage and the size of the swarm.

The sunshine states warm, humid climate is the perfect recipe for termite infestations. Understanding the signs of termite activity is critical for home and business owners alike.

Think youve had a swarm in your home? Want to learn more about our Termite Treatment Options? Schedule a free inspection or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).